WB inspects Regional Fisheries Laboratory 3 before opening

The World Bank (WB) has conducted a visit to the Regional Fisheries Laboratory 3 (RFL3) before its opening on 25 September 2026, to inspect the development of the facility.

The WB delegation was welcomed by the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) Central Luzon. The WB delegation was led by Agnes Balota, together with representatives from the National Project Management Office (NPMO) and other regions.

Regional Director Wilfredo Cruz, together with FishCoRe Alternate Focal Neil Kenneth Catibog, SUPRIM Component Lead Romina Yutuc, and RFL3 Head Gonzalo Coloma, Jr., accompanied the delegation during the walkthrough of the improved facility, joined by RFL3 personnel.

The visit provided an opportunity to showcase the improvements made to the facility through the FishCoRe Project and how these investments will contribute to strengthening its capacity to deliver responsive and quality fisheries and aquaculture services in Central Luzon.

The RFL3 is an upgraded regional facility of the BFAR Central Luzon located at the Diosdado Macapagal Government Center, Maimpis, City of San Fernando, Pampanga. The facility aims to strengthen regional capacity to deliver quality fisheries, phycology/ molecular diagnostics, biosecurity, and aquaculture laboratory services in Central Luzon.